October 12, 2021
Freight Brokering
A freight broker school is exactly what its name implies. It is a school that will teach you ins and outs of being a freight broker. The schools will typically teach you a number of things ranging from basic marketing and sales techniques to information on the trucking industry. Though these institutions are relatively new, they are quickly growing in popularity as they typically offer a fast track to learning many of the skills required to enter the field. However, as with anything, there are plenty of people out there running these businesses that don’t have the best of intentions. Today we’re going to go through the pros and cons of freight broker school, and hopefully at by the end of the blog you’ll be able to decide if it’s something you’d like to look into or avoid.
Though Freight broker school may not be for everyone, there are certain perks to it that make it worth checking out. A freight broker acts as the negotiator between a shipper and a carrier. A good freight broker can help the members of each side of the deal make out with more money and can possibly nurture a future relationship between the two.
What I’m trying to say here is that there are things that separate good freight brokers from bad freight brokers. Good ones possess the abilities the I mentioned above, and it’s not always the case that a good freight broker was just naturally gifted at the job. Getting good at the job can take a ton of time and could result in you messing up many deals before finally getting the hang of it. Freight broker school can minimize the number of early incidents that may take place and can overall prepare you for the more minute details of being freight broker. A school like this would be able to prepare you for things that typically could only be learned through experience.
These schools are also quite adept at educating people on running a business in general. Becoming a freight broker requires a certain knowledge of business practices as well as a knowledge of the trucking industry. A freight broker school can supply both, albeit in different capacities, to people who may know very little about both subjects. Ultimately, a school like this is going to benefit you in some way if they’re a legitimate institution and if you’re going into it with very little knowledge on the subjects. Now that we’ve covered the pros of freight broker school, we can address some cons associated with them.
As was discussed above, freight broker schools can be good sources of information for people entirely new to the industry, but if you’re already fairly well-versed in how to run a business then one of these schools may be a waste of time. Much of the course material in these schools is revolved around basic business techniques, so going to a school like this as a veteran business owner could end up being more repetitive than helpful. That’s only one of many problems with the schools, however. It seems that though there are many good quality schools to choose from that will teach what you need to know, there are just as many that are either low quality, or that are just looking to scam people. It’s important to emphasize that point. There are many people who work for these schools that are looking to scam you, and that’s why you need to look into each school very closely if you do decide to join one.
Joining a freight broker school isn’t a bad option depending on your situation and skill level going into the industry, but it’s not for everyone. It’s not an end all be all option for everyone looking to become a freight broker, but it can certainly help someone who knows next to nothing about running a business. If you do plan to find a school,there are some tips you should adhere to ensure that you don’t get scammed. A surefire way to find reputable schools is to ask reputable freight brokers.They’ll know which school is a scam and which will give you a quality education. You can also address more official resources like the Better Business Bureau or the department of education in your state to check to see if all of the school’s registrations and licenses are in place. We hope this article has given you a better understanding of freight broker schools, and the pros and cons of joining up with, or abstaining from one, and the ways you can keep yourself safe if you do choose to sign up for one.
An end dumps carry weight depends heavily on the specific road regulations, the power unit weight, and the composition of the trailer. A steel trailer, typically referred to as a Round Bottom, will be heavier and will have a payload of approximately 21 to 23 tons. By contrast, an aluminum end dump is much lighter and can carry anywhere from 23-28 tons, with some set-ups being able to approach 30-ton payloads.
End dumps are typically loaded by heavy machinery, such as a front-end loader or excavator, or by a series of conveyor belts. End dumps are top load trailers. An owner-operator with an end dump trailer will uncover the trailer via an electric tarp switch in the cab. With the trailer uncovered, the heavy machinery is free to load from the top of the trailer, being careful to evenly distribute the material. Once loaded, the owner-operator flips the tarp switch, covers the load, and continues their run.
There are several different types of hydraulic lifts that are usually part of dump trailers. These include telescopic, dual-piston, and scissor lifts, among others. Most dump trailers use hydraulics to automatically lift the dump box and unload the materials in a quick, seamless action.
An end dump is an excellent investment for owner operators or construction companies that transport bulk aggregate on a frequent basis. Depending on your needs, a steel or aluminum end dump will ensure that you are able to reliable keep your customers jobsites and stockpiles full.
Depending on market timing, a typical aluminum end dump will range between $15,000 to $70,000+, with steel round bottoms priced around $10,000-$50,000+. These trailers are also offered for rent or lease, with trailers available for around $850-$2,000 per month. When renting or leasing, it is typical for all repairs to be the responsibility of the renting owner operator.
Flex base can be an excellent choice for a driveway but is not often used as a primary input in TXDOT construction. Flex base is best suited for farm roads, driveways, RV pads, and for other foundations that will not receive heavy traffic. Flex base is cheaper than most alternative options, such as asphalt or base that meets TXDOT specifications. Additionally, once set and compacted, a flex base road or driveway is cheaper and easier to maintain.
Yes, road base and flex base are the same material family. That said, the differentiating factor is typically the testing results of each material. When shopping for material, it is important to identify exactly what type of material you are buying. Retailers will categorize Base as a broad category and can leave identification to consumers, which is challenging and confusing. In general, if a retailer is selling a Road Base it can be assumed that the material is of higher construction quality than flex base, meaning it will have a wider range of approved uses. However, some vendors will sell Flex Base as a Road Base; this makes it important to understand if the material you are purchasing is a true Flex Base, is ‘Spec 247’, or is TXDOT approved. With each increase in quality comes an increase in cost, so it is important to identify which material will best suit the needs of your project.
Flex Base is a mixture of loose aggregate and coarse aggregate, can be a wide range of color based on source location, and is composed of materials ranging from dirt to rock that are 1”-3” in size. Most Flex Base, particularly around Central Texas, will range from tan to brown, will consist of a dirt material and rocks that range from 1” to 2” in diameter. There are specialty materials that will include rocks up to 3” in size, but these are typically reserved for heavy construction projects.
Any driveway’s depth should be at least 5” to ensure structural integrity and better load capacity. For road base in particular, experts recommend a thickness of 6-8”.
Twisted Nail is here to help. If you need something hauled in central Texas, we can get your job done, safely, timely, and reliably.
